Apparatus for straightening metal bars and shapes



.I. T. LEE'CH Nov. 26, 1929.

APPARATUS Fon STRAiGHTENING METAL BARS AND SHAPES Filed March 31 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet E INN Nov. 26, 1929. J. 1'. LEECH 1,736,976 APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL BARS AND SHAPES I Filed March :51. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 2 '[I a mu llllllllllllllli a 1 I INVENZR Nov. 26, 1929. J. T. LEECH 1,736,976

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL BARS AND SHAPES Filed March 31, 1 925 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 26, 1929. J. T. LEECH 1,736,976

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL BARS AND SHAPES Filed March 31. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 J. T. LEECH Nov. 26, 1929.

APPARATUS FOR STRAIGHTENING METAL BARS AND SHAPES Filed March 51. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 MAW r m WWW 7 4,

INVE TOR I Patented Nov. 26; 1929 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB TTLEEGH, OI BEAVER; PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T UNION DRAWN STEEL comm,

VANIA OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPQRA'IION OF PENNSYL- APPABATUS FOR STRAIGH'I'ENING METAL BARS AND SHAPES Application filed March 31, 1925. Serial No. 19,593.

The present invention relates to apparatus for straightening metal bars and shapes, and more particularly cold drawn bars and shapes.

Such bars and shapes, as they come from the drawing dies, are not straight, and it is customary to first run them fiatwise through a straightening machine. This operation serves to straighten the bars or shapes in one direction and cause them to lie fiat on the floor.

However, they usually still require straightening in a plane at right angles to the plane in which they were first straightened, and in order to straighten them in this direction it has'been customary to turn them on edge and run them through another straightening'machine having grooved rolls to receivethe edges of the bars or shapes. It thus required two separate straightening operations to straighten the bars or shapes.

By the present invention I have provided a straightening machine comprising in combination with the usual horizontal straightening rolls for straightening bars or shapes in I a vertical plane, a series of vertical rolls for 13 acting on the edges of the bars or shapes for straightening them in a horizontal plane. I am thus enabled to straighten bars or shapes in two planes at right angles to each other distinct straightening operations were required.

Metal bars and shapes, particularly cold drawn bars and shapes, usually have a corkscrew twist in them which is not taken out by running them through the straightening machines. I also propose, therefore, to employ in conjunction with my combined vertical and horizontal straightening rolls (means for imparting a reverse twist to the bars or shapes to thereby take thecorkscrew twist out of them; I prefer to employ for this purpose means of the character disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 1,535,323, granted April 28,1925. a

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figures 1 and 2 are, respectively, a side elein a single operation, whereas heretoforetwothat the horizontal shafts 11 drive the lower vation and a plan view of the straightening apparatus;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line III-III of Figure 1;

F igures 4, 5 and6 are detail views of them; drlilvmg connections for the straightening r0 s;

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the roll carriage for a driven vertical roll, showing the roll and its driving connections;

Figure is .a vertical transverse sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the carriage for an undrlven vertical roll, showing the roll therein;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view on the line XX of Figure 9 i l Figures 11 and 12 are detail views of elements of the construction shown in Figures 9 and 10;

Figure 13 is a detail side'elevation of the twister;

Figures 14 and 15 are views looking, at the opposite ends of the twister shown in Figure complete 7 Z5 Figure 16 is a sectional plan view on the line XVIXVI of Figure 14, and

Figure 17 is a detail perspective view of the control arm of the twister and associated parts. 7

Referring to Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, 2 designates the frame of the apparatus. Projecting from one end of the frame is a bracket 3 upon which is supported a pair of electric motors 4. Each motor operates a horizontal 8 drive shaft 5 through a pinion Son the motor shaft meshing with a gear 7 on the'end of the drive shaft. Each shaft 5 operates another drive shaft 8 through a pinion 9 on each shaft 5 meshing with a gear 10 on each shaft 8. Each shaft 8 is operatively connected with a 'horizontal shaft 11 through a gear 12 on each shaft 8 meshing with a gear 13 on each shaft 11. By reference to Figure 4 it will be seen horizontal straightening rolls' 14 through mitre gears 15. Each shaft 8 also drives an upper horizontal shaft 16 through the gears 12 and 13., a gear 17 on each shaft 16 and idler gears 18, the gears 13, 17 and 18 being housed in a gear case 19 projecting upwardly from the frame 2.

Projecting upwardly from the top of the frame 2 are columns 20 and 21, the columns 20 being positioned adjacent the outer and inner longitudinal edges of the frame, and the columns 21 being positioned intermediate said inner and outer edges. These columns support on their upper ends horizontal rails 22 which have longitudinal grooves 23 in their edges. These rails support carriages 24, the edges of which are guided in the grooves 23 of the rails. The carriages 24 support the bearings 25 for theupper horizontal straightening rolls 26 which are arranged to cooperate with the lower straightening rolls 14. The rolls 26 are adapted to be adjusted vertically by means of hand-wheels 27. The lower rolls 14 and their driving gears 15 are journaled in carriages 28 which are slidably supported on the top of the frame 2 whereby they may be adjusted longitudinally of the frame to vary the spacing between the rolls 14. The carriages 28 are held on the top of the frame by removable plates 29, as shown in Figure 3. It will be appreciated that the carriages 24 for the upper rolls 26 are also adjustable on the rails 22 longitudinally of the frame to vary the spacing between the rolls 26.

The upper horizontal shafts 16 extend the full length of the machine and are journaled at one end in the gear casing 30 at the front of the machine, and at the other end in the vertical bearing support 31 at the rear end of the machine. These shafts are journaled intermediate their ends in the gear casing 19. They are also journaled in the carriages 24 for the upper horizontal straightening rolls 26, and in gear housings 32 arranged intermediate the gear casings 19 and 30. These gear housings are slidably mounted on the rails 22 and have journaled therein mitre gears 33 splined to the shafts 16 and meshing with mitre gears 34 on the upper ends of vertical drive shafts 35. These vertical drive shafts drive the inner sets of vertical straightening rolls 36.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, each driven vertical roll 36 is mounted on a vertical shaft 37 which is journaled in a roll carriage 38. Each shaft 37 carries a pinion 39 on its upper end meshing with a pinion 40 on the lower end of one of the shafts 35, the lower end of said shafts being journaled incarriages 38. Each carriage 38 isadjustable transversely of the machine on a base 41. These carriages have a dovetail rib 42 projecting from their lower face and engaging in-a dovetail slot 43 in the base 41, one wall of which slot is formed by a removable cheek piece 44. A bracket 45 is bolted to the inner end of the base41 and carries a set screw 46 which acts as an adjustable abutment for the inner vertical edge face of the carriage 38. By adjust- 'ing the set screw in or out the position of the roll 36 can be adjustable transversely of the machine. It will be understood that the shaft is journaled at its upper and lower ends in the carriages 32 and 38 with provision for a slight amount of play so as to permit a slight amount of adjustment of the carriage 38 transversely of the machine. The base 41 of each carriage 38 is slidably mounted on the top of the frame 2 and held thereon by the plates 29, whereby the carriages 38 are adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the machine to vary the spacing between the vertical rolls 36.

It will be understood that the inner driven vertical rolls 36 are adapted to act on the inner edges of bars or shapes passing through the straightening machine. For cooperation with each set of inner driven vertical rolls.

there is provided an outer set'of idler or undriven rolls 47 adapted to act on the outer edges of the bars or shapes. Referrlng to Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, each roll 47 is journaled in a carriage 48 which is slidably mounted on a base 49. Each carriage 48 has a dovetail rib 50 projecting from its lower face and engaging in adovetail slot 51 in the base. Each carriage is held to the base by a removable cheek piece 52 forming one wall of the dovetail slot. The base has a longitudinal channel 53 below the dovetail slot 51 and communicating therewith. Projecting into this channel is a nut 54 held to the base by a screw 55. A screw-threaded shaft 56 engages the nut and extends through an opening in a depending portion 57 of the carriage 48. The screwthreaded shaft has an integral collar 58 engaging one side of the depending portion 57. A sleeve 59 is mounted on the screw-threaded shaft between a hand-wheel 60 andthe other side of the depending portion 57. It will be seen that by turning one of the hand-wheels 60 the corresponding roll 47 can be adjusted transversely of the machine, whereby the space between a series of driven rolls 36 and a series of cooperating undriven rolls 47 can be varied to accommodate different widths of bars or shapes to be straightened. The base 49 of each carriage 48 is slidably mounted on the top of the frame 2 and held thereon by the plates 29, whereby the carriages 48 can be adjusted longitudinally of the machine to vary the spacing between the rolls 47, It

Cooperating with the pinch roll 64 is twister means adapted to impart a reverse twist to the bars or shapes which are passed through the straightening machine. The

twister means comprises a housing 67 mounted for vertical adjustment on a guide post 68 and a guide'pin' 69. The post 68 and the pin 69 are carried by a slide 70 mounted on a base plate 71 and adapted to be adjusted thereon by means of a screw 72. The guide post 68 has a screw-threaded upper end portion 73 with which cooperates a nut '7 4 whereby the housing 67 can be adjusted vertically. The housing has a rotor 75 journaled therein 5 and having a central circular opening 76 therein through which the material to be straightened passes. A plate 77 is secured to the front face of the rotor and has spaced horizontal'arms 78 projecting therefrom in which is journaled a horizontal roller 79. The arms 78 form extensions of a horizontal flange 80 which has longitudinal slots 81 therein in which are mounted vertical pins 82 on which are j ournaled vertical guide rollers 83. The pins are adjustable towards and from each other whereby to vary the distance between the rollers 83.

- Secured to the rear face of the rotor are roll housings 84 for bearing blocks 85 in 80 which are journaled a pair of horizontal rollers 86. Secured to one of the roll housings is an arm 87. ,This arm is connected by an adjustable link 88 to one end of a lever 89 which is pivoted intermediate its ends to the carriage for the upper pinch roll 64. A control arm 90, which is adjustable in length, is pivotally mounted at one end on said carriage and is connected to the lever 89 by a link 91. This link is adapted to be connected to the lever 89 on either side of its fulcrum, the lever having two openings 92 to receive the pivot bolt 93. Secured to the outer endof the control arm is a roller shaft 94 which has a roller 95 journaled on its reduced extremity.

Normally, the roller 95 is positioned, as shown in Figures 1 and 13, in the path of a bar passing between the pinch rolls 64. In operation, a 'bar will be fed over the horizontal roller 79 and between the vertical guide rollers 83 and will pass through the opening in the rotor 75. The end of the bar will pass between the horizontal twister rollers 86 and will thereafter be en; gaged by the pinch rolls 64. The pinch rolls 64 will feed the bar through the twister and between the verticalstrai htening rolls 36 and 47 and then between' ie horizontal straightening rolls 14 and 26. As soon as the leading end of the bar passes between the .pinch rolls 64 it will engage the roller 95 and lift the control arm. This will cause the rotor 75 to be turned to a position such that the axes of the twister rollers 86 will be inclined to the horizontal. By properly adjustin the length of the link 88 and the 'length 0 the control arm 90 the rotor will the opposite direction the link will be pivotally connected to the lever 89 on the opposite side of its fulcrum.

It will be seen that the construction is such that the material passing through the twister, by engagement with the roller 95, automatically sets the rotor into the desired position for taking the twist out of the material. The twister rollers 86 have been shown as plain rollers for cooperation with flat bars, but it will be apparent that if shapes, such as angles, are to be operated upon the rolls can be modified accordingly to receive such shapes. 7

It will be apparent, of course, that the invention is not limited to the use of a twister as an adjunct of the straightening apparatus, as it will only be employed where the bars or shapes to be straightened have the corkscrew twist.

The vertical straightening rolls,:as already fully explained, are adapted to be adjusted relatively to each other transversely of the machine to accommodate difi'erent widths of material, and the are adapted to be relatively adjusted longltudinally of the machine to vary the s acing between the rolls to suit different conditions of operation. Similarly, the horizontal straightening rolls are adapted to be adjusted longltudinally of the machine to vary the spacing between the rolls and to be relatively adjusted vertically. The horizontal straightening rolls have been shown as plain rolls for operating on bars but, ob viously, if shapes, such as angles, are to be straightened the rolls may be of suitable construction, such as grooved rolls, for this purpose. It will be seen that with the use of this apparatus bars and shapes can be passed through the machine and straightened both in a vertical lane-and in a horizontal plane to thereby e ect the complete straightening of the material in a single operation.

While I have shown and described 'a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to its illustrated embodiment, but that it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A straightening machine, comprising a set of straightening rolls arranged to act on opposite portions of the work, and a set of straightening rolls arranged to act on 'opposite portions'of the work at right angles v opposite portions of the work, and a set of straightening rolls arranged to act on opposite portions of the work at right angles to the first-mentioned portions, all of said rolls being relatively adjustable to vary the spacing between the rolls longitudinally of the machine, substantially as described.

3. A straightening machine, comprising a set of upper and lower straightening rolls, and a second set of straightening rolls adapted to act on the inner and outer edges of the work, the rolls of the second set adapted to act on one of said edges being driven and the rolls of said second set adapted to act on the other of said edges being undriven, the driven and undriven rolls of the second set being relatively adjustable longitudinally of the machine, substantially as described.

4. A straightening machine, comprising a set of upper and lower straightening rolls,

and a set of straightening rolls adapted to.

act on the inner and outer edges of the work, the rolls of the second set adapted to act on one of said edges being driven and the rolls of said second set adapted to act on the other of said edges being undriven, the driven and undriven rolls of said second set being relatively adjustable transversely of the machine and also longitudinally of the machine, substantially, as described.

5. A straightening machine, comprising a set of straightening rolls adapted to act upon the upper and lower faces of a bar, a second setof straightening rolls adapted to operate upon the edges of said bar, and a twister for taking the twist out of said bar, said twister having means adapted to be set to different positions for imparting the desired reverse twist to the Work, and means controlled by the work for automatically s-.tting said first-mentioned means in the desired position, substantially as described.

6. In a straightening machine, a set of straightening rolls arranged to act on opposite portions of the work, a second set of straightening rolls arranged to act on opposite portions of the work at substantially right angles to the first mentioned portions, driving means for at least certain of said first mentioned rolls, driving means for at least certain of said last mentioned rolls, and means for adjustingthe driven rolls longitudinally of the machine to vary the spacing therebetween, substantially as described.

7. In a straightening machine, a setof straightening rolls arranged to act on opposite portions of the work, a second set of straightening rolls arranged to act on other opposite portions of the work, all of said rolls being relatively adjustable to vary the spacing between the rolls longitudinally of the machine, and driving means for at least some of both sets of rolls, substantially as described.

8. In a straightening machine, a set of up- I per and lower straightening rolls, a second set of straightening rolls adapted to act on the inner and outer edges of the work, driving means for at least some of said first mentioned rolls, driving means for at least some of said second mentioned rolls, and means for adj usting all of said. rolls longitudinally of the machine for "arying the spacing therebetween and for individually adjusting said second mentioned rolls transversely of the machine, substantially as described.

9. In a straightening machine, a set of upper and lower straightening rolls, a second set of straightening rolls, common means for driving at least certain of the rolls of both sets, and means for adjusting the rolls of said second set both longitudinally and transversely of the machine, substantially as described.

10. In a straightening machine, a plural- 1 justable for varying the spacing therebetween longitudinally of the machine while maintaining the axes of the rolls at points forming substantially equilateral triangles, and a plurality of vertically disposed straightening rolls cooperating therewith, at least some of said vertically disposed rolls being driven and capable of individual adjustment transverselyof the machine, substantially as described.

12. In a straightening machine, a lurality of feeding and straightening rolls, a apted to cooperate with the upper and lower faces of the work. means for driving all of said rolls, all of said rolls being individually adjustable longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of vertically arranged straightening rolls adjustable transversely of the machine, and driving means for at least certain of said last mentioned rolls, substantially as described. a

13. In a straightening machine, a plurality of feeding and straightening rolls adapted to\ cooperate with the upper and lower faces of the work, means for driving all of said rolls,

all of said rolls bein individually adjustable longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of vertically arranged straightening rolls adjustable transversely of the machine,

and driving means for at least certain of said rolls, at least certain of said last mentioned rolls being adjustable longitudinally of the machine, substantially as described.

14. A straightenin machine, comprising a supporting base, a p urality of substantia ly vertical straightening rolls adjustable longitudinally and transversely of said base, a

plurality of substantially horizontal straightening rolls adjustable longitudinally of said base, and a drivingshaft common to all Of said rolls.

15. A straightening machine,c0mprisin a supporting base, a plurality of substantia 1v vertical straightening rolls thereon, means carrying said rolls and individually adjustable longitudinally of said base for variably. spacing said rolls, a shaft'common to all of said said rolls, *said means including housings in which the shaft is journaled, and means in each housing cooperatin with said shaft for driving the respective ro ls. 16. A straightening machine, comprising a supporting base, a plurality of straightening rolls thereon, extending substantially verti call means carrying said rolls and individ-- ual y adjustable longitudinally of said base for variably spacing said rolls, means for adjusting said rolls transversely of the base, a plurality of straightening rolls extending substantially horizontall and driving means common to all of said rolls.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

- i JACOB LEECH.- 

